Hot Springs, Arkansas: Home to Historic Hot Springs National Park

A small town less than 60 miles southwest of Little Rock, Hot Springs is known for thoroughbred racing at Oaklawn Jockey Club, its thriving small-town arts scene, and as the boyhood hometown of President Bill Clinton. But Hot Springs’ major attraction is still—unsurprisingly—its hot springs. The natural thermal waters flow out of the ground at about 147 degrees at Hot Springs National Park, nicknamed “The American Spa.” The mineral pools put the town on the map in the late 19th century. Scores of celebrities followed, including Babe Ruth, Harry Truman, Rose Kennedy, and Barbara Streisand. In the early 20th century, the Chicago Cubs, Boston Red Sox, and Brooklyn Dodgers all vacationed here for spring training.